Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

A trial date of Oct. 6 was set Tuesday for Bob Bashara, the Grosse Pointe Park businessman charged with his wife’s murder.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans said during the hearing at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice that the court plans to call 150 prospective jurors, who will complete questionnaires, and plans to seat 16 jurors.

“Because of the high publicity of this case, the court is going to do jury selection by using juror questionnaires,” Evans said.

She appointed Lillian Diallo to represent Bashara, praising her reputation, and said she planned to appoint David Cripps as well.

But then the attorneys met in chambers with the judge, and Evans returned to the courtroom and said she wasn’t going to enter an order appointing Cripps, adding there may be some type of disclosures forthcoming.

“I’m going to make a decision on April 4 as to how the court wants to proceed,” she said.

Evans, who removed Bashara’s legal team from the defender’s office, citing his wishes, has said she was given the authority to place two attorneys on the case at a rate of $125 per hour, which could add up to about $200,000.

Bashara, who wore green jail garb with a red pocket and had shorter hair than in the past, greeted the judge as the brief hearing got under way.

“Mr. Bashara, good morning,” Evans said.

“Good morning to you,” he replied.

Several other dates were set Tuesday, including a May 28 deadline for pretrial motions, which will be heard at 9 a.m. June 23.

Prosecutors have cited an alternative lifestyle and Bashara’s former mistress as motives in death of his wife, Jane Bashara.

But Bob Bashara has maintained his innocence, despite an admission from his former handyman, Joseph Gentz, who said he killed Jane Bashara in January 2012 at her husband’s direction.

Gentz later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

In a separate hearing, Evans said a hearing will be held March 21 in regard to a request for the return of some of the property taken during the execution of a search warrant Oct. 29 at the office of Dean Valente, Bashara’s personal attorney. She ordered some of the property taken to be returned.